By Godwin Oritse

In a bid to further strengthen bilateral trade tie and sustain existing cooperation between Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has concluded plans to partner with its Beninese counterpart in Krake, Benin Republic with a view to having a seamless Customs administration in both countries.

Comptroller General of Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, Comptroller Gabriel Aliu, Chief Superintendent Ibrahim Turaki and Cheff du bureau of Benin Republic Customs Seme Command, Col Kpodehou Yves ..

Speaking during a visit to Customs Service in Benin, the Customs Area Comptroller of the Seme border command, Ndalati Garba Mohammed said that the existing international and inter agency tie between both countries and their customs administration as factors that influences the social, cultural and economic lives of citizens of both countries should be sustained..

Speaking through an interpreter, Ndalati said the laudable examples set by Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service(CGC) and Director General(DG) of Benin Customs at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and regional levels are worthy of emulation.

He said with the increasing global security challenges, the need for both  customs administration to work in synergy cannot be over emphasised.

Mutual relationship

He stated that the visit was intended to cement a mutual relationship that is ongoing, not minding the geographical demarcation but to align with the cultural and economic ties that binds both together.

‘’ With adequate intelligence gathering and sharing we can work to foster trade within our sub region in pursuant of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) treaties and protocols.

“We should also insist on compliance by our various stakeholders on the rules of trade within the sub region.

“Our nationals are tapping into the benefits of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the Joint Committee on Commerce (JCC).This must be encouraged with efforts to detect and prevent its abuses’’ he stated. He commended the Benin Customs Administration on behalf of the CGC for the ongoing bilateral relationship in vehicle import transit process which has suppressed smuggling of vehicles and boosted revenue collection in the command.

Speaking in similar vein, Colonel Afoudah Idowu who held brief for the DG of Benin Customs described Nigeria Customs as a dependable ally in the global customs community. He welcomed Ndalati and asked him to feel free to reach out to them any time the need arises for operational issues and intelligence sharing.